Sphere and glove exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus comprising at least one glove, at least one sphere and an adhering means that adheres the glove to the sphere. The glove comprises a central panel comprising finger engaging portions and a thumb hole, a plurality of straps extending from either side of the central panel are adapted to be attached together across the back of the hand for securing the glove, and an elevated pad on the central panel disposed in a way to contact the sphere and elevate the hand when performing exercises.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

None

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

None

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

None

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to exercise devices, and more particularly to a sphere and glove apparatus to be used when performing a variety of exercises involving an inflatable sphere.

A variety of sport gloves for use with devices of spherical construction have been developed in the past. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,293 to Mustin discloses a sports glove including a body portion designed to fit in the palm, a thumb engaging portion, a plurality of different finger engaging portions, and a flexible wrist band are affixed to the body portion. A ball holding suction cup defining a semi-spherical depression positioned to open outwardly from the palm is affixed to a centrally located opening in the body portion. The body portion, thumb engaging portion, plurality of finger engaging portions, and the wrist band cooperate to position the ball holding suction cup firmly in the palm so as to operate as a ball holding suction cup with the hand slightly closed and to release suction in the suction cup with the hand extended.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,669 to Albert discloses a bowling glove comprising a palm portion and a control-enhancing material attached to the palm portion. The control-enhancing material includes a plurality of recesses, such as suction cups, positioned on the palm portion of the bowling glove. The areas covered by the control-enhancing material include the underside of the index finger, the underside of the thumb, the underside of the little finger, and the underside of the middle and ring fingers. The control-enhancing material is positioned at all or some of the areas on the glove that contact the bowling ball when the glove is worn on the hand of the user and the user is holding a bowling ball. The control-enhancing material works to grip the surface of the bowling ball by a suction force and a friction force.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,956 to Schulkin discloses an athletic glove especially adapted for handling a basketball includes a palm layer and a top layer sewn together at their lateral edges to provide a substantially partially thumb less, fingertip less, wrist less, four fingered glove body construction having the outer surface of the palm layer being covered by a plurality of rubberized protruding friction elements having a hemispherical shape substantially the same size and shape as protruding elements upon the surface of a basketball. The palm layer and the top layer are made of a spandex type material adapted to stretch and closely conform to the anatomy of the hand of a wearer of the basketball glove. The glove resists rotation and reversal of direction of a moving basketball approaching and contacting the hand of a basketball player. The glove also dampens impact, so that the basketball has less of a tendency to jump out of the hands of a player during a fast moving basketball game.

The above referenced devices are designed for use in sporting activities in which a user's glove doesn't adhere to a sphere. The present invention comprises a combination glove and attachable sphere apparatus to be used when performing exercises.

Many exercises involve spherical objects. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a glove and sphere apparatus that provides firm grip when performing specific exercises. Another object of the present invention is to provide a means of preventing a spherical object from rolling out from under a user between exercises. A further object of the present invention is to provide an exercise device that works the chest, shoulders, triceps, rotator cuff, stabilizer muscles and core muscles by balancing on spheres. Another object of the present invention is to improve the balance of the upper body. These and other objects of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the appended Summary, Description, and Claims.

SUMMARY

The exercise apparatus of the present invention comprises at least one sphere and at least one glove that can be removably adhered to the sphere. The glove comprises a central panel comprising finger engaging portions and a thumb hole, a plurality of straps extending from either side of the central panel are adapted to be attached together for securing the glove, and elevated pad on the central panel which causes the palm of a user to be elevated relative to the sphere. This reduces the stress on the wrist of a user when engaging the sphere. The glove includes fasteners above the elevated pad. The sphere is inflatable and also includes fastening means so that the glove can adhere to it. In order to use the device, a user puts on one or more gloves, and adheres each of them to a sphere. A user may then perform a variety of exercises, including standard push-ups using two spheres as a base. The spheres also vary in size to accommodate users of different sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the glove in an open configuration in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the glove in a closed configuration.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the glove in a closed configuration.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the glove in a closed configuration.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the glove as worn by a user.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views of the sphere in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an illustration showing the glove, as worn by a user, attached to the sphere in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURES Reference Numerals

-   10 . . . Glove -   12 . . . Sphere -   14 . . . Central Panel -   16 . . . Top Strap -   18 . . . Bottom Strap -   20 . . . Elevated Pad -   22 . . . Index Finger Engaging Tubular Structure -   24 . . . Ring Finger Engaging Tubular Structure -   26 . . . Thumb Hole -   28 . . . Hook and Loop Fasteners -   30 . . . User's Hand

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the sphere and glove exercise apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9. The apparatus comprises a glove 10, a sphere 12, and an adhering means to adhere the glove to the sphere.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, the glove 10 is a unitary piece comprising a central panel 14, a pair of top straps 16, a pair of bottom straps 18, and an elevated pad 20 on the central panel. The central panel 14 has a structure 22 for engaging the index finger of a user, a structure 24 for engaging the middle or ring finger of a user, and a thumb hole 26. The top and bottom straps include hook and loop fasteners 28. The top straps 16 extend from either sides of the central panel 14 and are secured together over the back of the hand. The bottom straps 18 extend from either sides of the central panel 14 and are secured together over the wrist.

The thumb hole 26 is below the top straps 16 and the index and ring finger engaging tubular structures 22 and 24 are on top of the central panel 14. The elevated pad 20 is below the top straps and disposed in a way to contact the sphere when performing exercises. The adhering means comprises a hook and loop fasteners 28, which are disposed over an area of the central panel that is above the elevated pad 20.

In order to secure the glove 10 to a user's hand 30, in one embodiment, the index and ring fingers of the user are inserted in the index and ring finger engaging structures 22 and 24, respectively. The middle finger rests between the structures. The top and bottom straps are secured together to firmly secure the glove 10. In an alternate embodiment, the finger engaging structures 22 and 24, respectively, engage the middle and ring fingers of a user.

Referring to FIGS. 6 through 8, the sphere 12 is inflatable. An adhering means that engages the adhering means on the glove is disposed on the exterior of the sphere 12. In one embodiment, the adhering means comprises hook and loop fasteners 28, which occupy approximately one third of the surface area of the sphere. However, the hook and loop fasteners can be disposed to cover any area sufficient to firmly adhere the glove.

Referring to FIG. 9, in order to use the present invention, the user puts on the glove 10, and presses it against the sphere 12, thereby adhering the glove to the sphere. A pair of spheres and gloves can be used to perform a variety of exercises. The glove 10 fits tightly over the user's hand 30 and prevents movement of the hand within it. The material comprising the glove is breathable, so that moisture can pass through it. The sphere can be inflated with a gas, liquid, solid, or a combination of gasses, liquids and solids.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation. 

1. An apparatus for performing exercises, comprising a. at least one glove with a means for elevating the palm of a user; b. at least one sphere; and c. an adhering means to adhere the at least glove to the at least one sphere for providing a firm grip to a user when performing exercises.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhering means is disposed on the palm side of the at least one glove and on the exterior of the at least one sphere.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the glove comprises: a. a central panel comprising finger engaging portions and a thumb hole; b. a plurality of straps extending from either side of the central panel and adapted to be attached across the back of the hand of a user for securing the glove; and c. an elevated pad on the central panel disposed in a way to contact both the sphere and the palm of a user when performing exercises.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of straps comprise a pair of top straps extending from either side of the central panel and adapted to be secured together over the back of the hand; and a pair of bottom straps extending from either sides of the central panel and adapted to be secured together over the back of the wrist.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the elevated pad is disposed below the area of attachment of the top straps on the palm of the glove.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the adhering means is disposed above the elevated pad relative to the palm of the glove.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the finger engaging portions comprise an index finger engaging portion and a ring finger engaging portion.
 8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the finger engaging portions comprise tubular structures when closed.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhering means is resealable.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the adhering means comprises a hook and loop fastening system.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sphere is inflatable.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one sphere is inflated with a gas, liquid, or solid, or a combination of gasses, liquids and solids.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one glove prevents movement of the hand relative to the at least one glove.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material comprising the at least one glove is breathable, allowing moisture from the hand of a user to pass through the glove.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhering means disposed on the at least one glove is sufficient to adhere the glove to the sphere without moving when under the weight of a user.
 16. An exercise glove apparatus, wherein the glove comprises: a. a central panel comprising finger engaging members and a thumb hole; b. a plurality of straps extending from either sides of the central panel and adapted to be attached together for securing the glove; and c. an elevated pad on the central panel that is disposed in a way to contact the sphere when performing exercises.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of straps comprise a pair of top straps extending from either side of the central panel that secure together over the back of the palm; and a pair of bottom straps extending from the sides of the panel that secure over the wrist.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the finger engaging portions comprise a middle finger engaging portion and a ring finger engaging portion.
 19. An apparatus for performing exercises, comprising a. at least one glove; b. at least one sphere; b. an elevating pad removably attached to the sphere and glove; and c. an adhering means to adhere the at least glove to the at least sphere for providing firm grip to a user when performing exercises.
 20. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the glove comprises; a. a central panel comprising finger engaging members and a thumb hole; b. a plurality of straps extending from either sides of the central panel and adapted to be attached together for securing the glove; and c. an elevated pad on the central panel that is disposed in a way to contact the sphere when performing exercises. 